Men’s 88 kg – 2025 IWF World Championships: Yeison Lopez Conquers Førde in a Battle of Titans

A Night of Power, Precision and Drama in Førde

The 2025 IWF World Championships in Førde, Norway, marked the 120-year anniversary of the International Weightlifting Federation – and the men’s 88 kg category delivered one of the tournament’s most captivating sessions.

Inside the packed Fordehuset arena, twelve elite lifters took the stage, representing the power centers of world weightlifting: Colombia, Moldova, Italy, Iran, Korea, Germany and more.

The 88 kg Division in Context

The 88 kg category, still settling after the post-Olympic reshuffle, has quickly become a proving ground for balance between speed and raw power. Many of its athletes – former 81s or 89s – arrived in Førde with unfinished business from Paris 2024.

For fans, this was a dream lineup: world record holders, veterans from multiple Olympic cycles, and new athletes from Asia and Europe. Expectations soared even before the first barbell left the floor.

Meet the Athletes

Arley Méndez Pérez (CHI), the 2017 World Champion, made his return to the big stage in Group B. Known for his polished technique and composed demeanor, Méndez showed flashes of his old form, posting a solid series that reminded fans of his world-class talent.

YEISON LOPEZ LOPEZ (COL) – A world champion in the 81 kg class, Lopez entered Førde as the heavy favorite. A Tokyo 2020 Olympian and Paris 2024 silver medalist, Lopez arrived in Norway with the confidence of a seasoned champion determined to extend his dominance into a new bodyweight category. His combination of flair and precision has made him one of the most technically admired lifters in the modern era.

MARIN ROBU (MDA) – Moldova’s pride and one of Europe’s most decorated lifters. A four-time European Championship medalist and three-time World Championship medalist, Robu combines calm precision with relentless consistency. His smooth, rhythmic technique and competitive maturity make him a perennial podium contender.

LORENZO TARQUINI (ITA) – One of Italy’s rising stars, Tarquini has become a key figure in the nation’s new wave of lifters. A top-five finisher at the 2024 European Championships, he’s known for his crisp technique, calm stage presence, and steady progress.

CRISTIANO FICCO (ITA) – A European medalist and former Youth Olympic champion, Ficco returned to the world stage after injury setbacks with renewed focus and determination. Known for his fluid, classical technique and calm presence, he remains one of Italy’s most admired technicians.

LUCAS MUELLER (GER) – Germany’s young powerhouse, Mueller has quickly become a key part of the national team after winning silver at the 2023 European Junior Championships. Known for his textbook German technique and consistency on openers, he continues to build toward senior-level success.

JO DAEHEE (KOR) – A clean & jerk specialist with explosive speed and trademark aggression, Jo is one of Korea’s most promising middleweights. After returning from injury in 2023, his comeback season has been marked by steady improvements and a fighting spirit that resonates with fans.

ANDRANIK KARAPETYAN (BIH) – A familiar name in international weightlifting, Karapetyan now represents Bosnia and Herzegovina after previously competing for Armenia. A world and European medalist earlier in his career, he remains one of the most technically gifted athletes in the field, admired for his precision and veteran composure.

SUREN GRIGORYAN (ARM) – Representing Armenia’s new generation, Grigoryan brings explosive strength and fearless lifting to the platform. Still refining his international experience, he’s part of Armenia’s deep middleweight roster that continues to produce world-class talent.

PAN YUNHUA (CHN) – The youngest lifter in this category at just 20 years old, Pan represents China’s next wave of talent. With clean mechanics and impressive speed under the bar, he’s already viewed by coaches as a future contender for Asian and world medals.

PARK HYEONGO (KOR) – Completing the lineup, Park is a dynamic lifter with exceptional bar speed and raw power. Though inconsistent at times, his performances are never dull — a crowd-pleaser known for attacking heavy attempts without hesitation.

The Snatch Session 

Before the medal contenders took center stage, several lifters in the first rotation set the tone for a fast-paced session. Lucas Mueller opened confidently at 154 kg, displaying the precise, upright pulling style typical of the German school.

Park Hyeongo failed to secure a successful lift despite solid pulling power. He went for 155 kg, followed by two tries at 157 kg, all ending in missed attempts.

Lorenzo Tarquini opened confidently at 155 kg, moving with balance and precision. His second lift at 159 kg showed improved timing and control, marking steady progress for the young Italian. Jo Daehee followed with 160 kg, making his lift but failing to stabilize 166 kg and 168 on his next attempts. His lift was technically solid but inconsistent, leaving him mid-pack as the heavier lifters prepared to take the stage.

Cristiano Ficco approached the snatch with focus and control. He opened at 155 kg, making it look comfortable, then followed with a confident 159 kg on his second attempt. Pushing for 163 kg on his final lift proved too much, as the bar slipped behind. Still, his 159 kg result reflected solid form and steady progress after his return from injury.

Andranik Karapetyan returning to the world platform under a new flag, struggled to find his rhythm in the snatch. He called for 168 kg on his first two attempts and 173 kg on his final lift, but none were successful. A disappointing series for such an experienced lifter, leaving him without a result in the snatch.

Suren Grigoryan had a shaky start in the snatch, missing his first two attempts before finally securing 160 kg on his third.  It wasn’t a perfect performance, but making that last attempt kept him in the competition and showed his resilience under pressure.

Pan Yunhua the youngest lifter in the group at just 20 years old, endured a difficult snatch session. He called for 160 kg, 161 kg, and 162 kg, but failed to complete any of the three attempts. Each lift showed flashes of potential – fast turnover, sharp pull – yet the bar never stabilized overhead. 

Marin Robu opened steadily and secured 169 kg on his first successful attempt. He then went for 174 kg twice but missed both, unable to stabilize the bar overhead. His 169 kg earned him the bronze medal in the snatch, keeping him well within reach of the podium heading into the clean & jerk.

Yeison Lopez Lopez dominated the snatch. He started at 173 kg, followed by a powerful 177 kg, setting a new world record in the snatch. His final attempt at 180 kg was unsuccessful, but the 177 kg stood as the best lift of the session and secured him the snatch gold.

Arley Méndez Pérez delivered a standout performance in the Group B snatch session of the Men’s 88 kg category. Opening strong at 167 kg, he followed with a crisp 172 kg, showcasing his trademark technique and composure.

His final attempt at 175 kg narrowly missed overhead, but the 172 kg lift stood as the best result of Group B and later earned him the silver medal in the snatch after totals from both groups were combined – a remarkable comeback for the 2017 World Champion.

Snatch Medalists

🥇 Yeison Lopez (COL) – 177 kg (World Record)
🥈 Marin Robu (MDA) – 169 kg
🥉 Ro Kwang Ryol – 162 kg

The Clean & Jerk

The second half of the men’s 88 kg competition brought even greater intensity, as the battle shifted from speed to sheer strength. Every attempt counted, and the clean & jerk reshaped the rankings right until the final lift.

Lucas Mueller and Andranik Karapetyan both did not take part in the clean & jerk session. After unsuccessful snatch results and visible signs of fatigue, both lifters decided to withdraw from the second half of the competition. Their absence slightly shortened the group, shifting the focus toward the top contenders battling for total medals.

Cristiano Ficco approached the clean & jerk with focus and control. He opened confidently at 193 kg, completing a strong, technically clean lift. His following attempts at heavier weights were not successful, but the 193 kg stood as his best – a solid performance that marked a positive step in his return to form.

Pan Yunhua did not post a clean & jerk result after failing to record a snatch, while Park Hyeongo completed a good lift at 195 kg in the clean & jerk, showing strength and determination after his earlier struggles. However, with no successful snatch, he did not register a total in the competition.

Lorenzo Tarquini missed his first clean & jerk attempt but quickly recovered to make 191 kg on his second. He then successfully lifted 198 kg on his final attempt – a new personal best on the world stage. His calm recovery after the early miss showed growing maturity and composure under pressure.

Suren Grigoryan had a difficult clean & jerk session, missing all three of his attempts at 195 kg. Jo Daehee also struggled in the clean & jerk, missing all three of his attempts at 200 kg, 201 kg, and 201 kg. 

Marin Robu opened strongly with 200 kg, completing the lift with trademark precision and control. He then went for 204 kg twice but failed to complete either jerk. His 200 kg stood as his best lift, earning him the bronze medal in clean & jerk and securing a place on the overall podium.

Yeison Lopez Lopez opened at 205 kg but missed his first attempt after losing balance in the jerk. He corrected immediately, making the same weight on his second attempt with perfect control. On his final lift, he executed 210 kg smoothly – a powerful and confident performance that secured him first place overall and a new world record total of 387 kg.

Clean & Jerk Medalists

🥇 Ro Kwang Ryol – 215 kg (World Record)
🥈 Yeison Lopez (COL) – 210 kg
🥉 Marin Robu (MDA) – 200 kg

Full Results Table

Records and Highlights

The Men’s 88 kg session was as unpredictable as it was powerful. While world records were set, the competition also saw an unusual number of missed lifts – with several athletes bombing out or skipping the clean & jerk, leaving the field unexpectedly thin.

Amid the chaos, Yeison López, Ro Kwang Ryol, and Arley Méndez Pérez stayed composed and turned pressure into performance. López’s 177 kg snatch and 387 kg total set world records, while Ro delivered a 215 kg clean & jerk world record of his own.

Despite the mistakes, the mix of brilliance and unpredictability made the 88 kg category one of the most dramatic and memorable sessions of the 2025 World Championships.

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Stay tuned – we’ll continue our exclusive coverage of Førde 2025 right here on the blog and across our Instagram and YouTube channels.

And don’t miss our special Championship Training Sale running throughout this event – a perfect chance to train like the pros you’ve just watched on the world stage.